U.S. patent number 7,063,299 [Application Number 10/227,103] was granted by the patent office on 2006-06-20 for suspending equipment.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Gripple Limited. Invention is credited to Derek Boaler, Hugh David Facey, John Makin.
United States Patent |
7,063,299 |
Facey , et al. |
June 20, 2006 |
Suspending equipment
Abstract
A mechanism for suspending equipment from an overhead structural
member includes a suspension strand, e.g. of wire or wire rope,
provided at one end with a screwthreaded portion, together with a
locking device having in bores each preferably associated with a
wedging mechanism which prevents withdrawal of the free end of the
strand in the opposite direction to insertion. The screwthreaded
portion may be screwed into the overhead structural member, or into
the equipment, the free end of the strand passed through one bore
of the locking device, through an eye on the equipment or round the
equipment, or through an eye on the overhead structural member or
round the overhead structural member, then back through the other
bore of the locking device to be secured therein by the wedging
mechanism.
Inventors: |
Facey; Hugh David (Sheffield,
GB), Boaler; Derek (Sheffield, GB), Makin;
John (Rotherham, GB) |
Assignee: |
Gripple Limited (Sheffield,
GB)
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Family
ID: |
26246464 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/227,103 |
Filed: |
August 23, 2002 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20030062460 A1 |
Apr 3, 2003 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Aug 23, 2001 [GB] |
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0120523.6 |
Nov 1, 2001 [GB] |
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0126179.1 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
248/328;
248/317 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16G
11/14 (20130101); F16G 11/106 (20130101); F16B
2/14 (20130101); F21V 21/008 (20130101); F21V
21/16 (20130101); H02G 3/381 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F16G
11/14 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;248/328,327,329,231.9,320,321,317 ;411/392 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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0926393 |
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Aug 1998 |
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EP |
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2298436 |
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Sep 1996 |
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GB |
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9-151996 |
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Oct 1997 |
|
JP |
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11-201237 |
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Jul 1999 |
|
JP |
|
00303612 |
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Oct 2000 |
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JP |
|
Primary Examiner: King; Anita M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Trexler, Bushnell, Giangiorgi,
Blackstone & Marr, Ltd
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A method of suspending equipment from an overhead structural
member comprising driving into the overhead member a pair of
drop-in anchors spaced apart, providing a suspension strand with a
screwthreaded portion at one end, screwing the screwthreaded
portion on the strand into one of the drop-in anchors, screwing
into the other drop-in anchor a bolt having a head with a lateral
hole, passing the free end of the suspension strand round the
equipment to be suspended, then through one bore of a locking
device of the type having twin bores at least onc of which is
associated with wedging means preventing withdrawal in the opposite
direction to insertion, next passing the free end of the suspension
strand through the lateral hole in the bolt passing the free end of
the suspension strand through the other bore of the aforesaid
device, and finally pulling the free end of the suspension strand
through the locking device and the lateral hole in the bolt until
the equipment is secured in contact with the overhead member.
2. A method as in claim 1, wherein for use with equipment having a
square or rectangular cross-section the drop-in anchors are spaced
apart by more than the width of the equipment, so that the
equipment can be secured with the upper side in full contact with
the overhead member.
3. A method as in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a pad or strip of
insulating material is provided between the equipment and the
overhead structural member.
4. An equipment suspension kit comprising a pair of drop-in
anchors, a suspension strand with a screwthreaded portion at one
end for screwing into one drop-in anchor, a bolt with a lateral
hole in a head portion for screwing into the other drop-in anchor,
and a locking device for the suspension strand having twin bores at
least one of which is associated with wedging means preventing
withdrawal of the suspension strand in the opposite direction to
insertion.
5. A kit as in claim 4, wherein each bore of the locking device is
associated with wedging means, so that the locking device can be
used either way up.
6. A kit as in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein a pair or pairs of nuts
is provided for alternative use in securing the screwthreaded
portion of the suspension strand and the bolt in plain holes in an
overhead structural member.
7. A kit as in claim 4 or claim 5, including plastics sleeving or
slipping any over part of the suspension strand expected to contact
the equipment to be suspended.
Description
This application claims priority with respect to British
Application No. 0120523.6, filed Aug. 23, 2001, and British
Application No. 0126179.1, flied Nov. 1,2001.
This invention relates to means for and methods of suspending
equipment (such as lighting, heating, trunking or ventilation
units) from an overhead structural member (such as a roof, ceiling,
beam or girder).
According to one aspect of the present invention, means for
suspending equipment from an overhead structural member comprises a
suspension strand provided at one end with a screwthreaded portion,
together with a locking device having twin bores at least one of
which is associated with wedging means (e.g. a ball, roller or
wedge) preventing withdrawal of the free end of the suspension
strand (i.e. the end remote from the screwthreaded portion) in the
opposite direction to insertion.
Thus, in one method of suspending equipment from an overhead
structural member in accordance with the invention, the
screwthreaded portion on the suspension strand is screwed into a
screwthreaded hole provided in the overhead structural member, or
secured in a plain hole in part of the member, e.g. a flange, by a
nut on each side of the hole, the free end of the strand is passed
through one bore of the locking device, then through an eye
provided on the equipment or passed round the equipment, and
through the other bore of the locking device wherein the strand is
secured by the wedging means.
In another method in accordance with the invention, the
screwthreaded portion on the suspension strand is screwed into a
screwthreaded hole in the equipment to be suspended, or a
supporting member therefor, or secured in a plain hole in part of
the equipment or supporting member, e.g. flange, by a nut on each
side of the hole, the free end of the strand is passed through one
bore of the locking device, then through an eye provided on the
overhead structural member or passed over the member, and through
the other bore of the locking device wherein the strand is secured
by the wedging means.
With either method, the level at which the equipment is suspended
can be adjusted upwards by pulling the locking device upwards or
downwards, as the case may be by pulling the free end of the
suspension strand further through the locking device, which may be
provided with temporary release means for its wedging means to
enable the level at which the equipment is suspended to be adjusted
downwards.
The suspension strand may be a length of wire or wire rope, or of
any other suitable material, and the screwthreaded portion on one
end is part of a member the other part of which is a socket in
which the end of the strand is secured by swaging the socket. The
member having the screwthreaded portion and the socket is
preferably provided with a non-circular formation to which can be
applied a wrench or spanner for facilitating screwing into the
screwthreaded hole in the overhead structural member on the
equipment, and which non-circular formation may be formed by a
plurality of flats (e.g. six) made by a swaging tool.
Each bore of the locking device may be associated with wedging
means, so that the locking device can be used either way up.
The screwthreaded hole in an overhead structural member may be
provided by a dropin anchor driven into a hole bored in the member;
thus an equipment suspension kit may comprise a drop-in anchor in
addition to a suspension strand with screwthreaded portion and a
locking device with twin bores and wedging means as described
above. Alternatively, or in addition, an equipment suspension kit
may be provided with an eyebolt or similar for securing to an
overhead structural member or the equipment to be suspended, as the
case may be.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of
suspending equipment from an overhead structural member, such as a
concrete beam or ceiling, comprises driving into the overhead
member a pair of drop-in anchors spaced apart, providing a
suspension strand with a screwthreaded portion at one end, screwing
the screwthreaded portion on the strand into one of the drop-in
anchors, screwing into the other drop-in anchor a bolt having a
head with a lateral hole, passing the free end of the suspension
strand round the equipment to be suspended, then through one bore
of a locking device of the type having twin bores at least one of
which is associated with wedging means preventing withdrawal in the
opposite direction to insertion, next passing the free end of the
suspension strand through the lateral hole in the bolt, passing the
free end of the suspension strand through the other bore of the
aforesaid device, and finally pulling the free end of the
suspension strand through the locking device and the lateral hole
in the bolt until the equipment is secured in contact with the
overhead member. For use with equipment having a square or
rectangular cross-section the drop-in anchors are preferably spaced
apart by more than the width of the equipment, so that the
equipment can be secured with its upper side in full contact with
the overhead member. A pad or strip of insulating material may be
provided between the equipment and the overhead structural
member.
Thus another equipment suspension kit may comprise a pair of
drop-in anchors, a suspension strand with a screwthreaded portion
at one end for screwing into one drop-in anchor, a bolt with a
lateral hole in a head portion for screwing into the other drop-in
anchor, and a locking device for the suspension strand of the type
having twin bores at least one of which is associated with wedging
means preventing withdrawal of the suspension strand in the
opposite direction to insertion.
Alternatively, or in addition, a pair or pairs of nuts may be
provided for use in securing the or each screwthreaded portion in a
plain hole, as described above.
Any equipment suspension kit in accordance with the invention may
include plastics sleeving for slipping any over part of the
suspension strand expected to contact the equipment to be
suspended, e.g. to minimise vibration or noise; and a tensioning
tool, such as a blind rivetting tool, may be included for
tensioning the suspension strand by application of the tool to the
free end of the suspension strand after it has passed through the
second bore of the locking device.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of
example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a suspension strand provided at one
end with a screwthreaded portion for use as part of means in
accordance with the invention for suspending equipment from an
overhead structural member as will be described with reference to
FIGS. 3 to 10;
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through a locking device forming
the other part of the means for suspending equipment from an
overhead structural member;
FIG. 3 is a part-sectional elevation showing the suspension strand
of FIG. 1 and the locking device of FIG. 2 in use for suspending
equipment from an overhead structural member;
FIG. 4 corresponds to the upper end of FIG. 3 but shows an
alternative way of fixing the suspension strand to an overhead
structural member;
FIG. 5 corresponds to FIG. 4 but shows a way of fixing the
suspension strand to an overhead structural member made of
concrete;
FIG. 6 corresponds to the lower end of FIG. 3 but shows an
alternative way of using the suspension strand to suspend
equipment;
FIG. 7 corresponds to FIG. 3 but shows the suspension means
disposed the other way up;
FIG. 8 corresponds to FIG. 7 but shows alternative ways of securing
the suspension strand to the equipment and the overhead structural
member;
FIG. 9 Is a section through an item of equipment suspended from but
secured up against an overhead structural member made of concrete
by another method in accordance with the invention, and
FIG. 10 is a view of the right hand side of FIG. 9.
The means for suspending equipment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprise
a suspension strand 11 provided at one end with a screwthreaded
portion 12, and a locking device 13 having twin bores 14A, 14B each
associated with wedging means 15A, 15B preventing withdrawal of the
free end 16 of the suspension strand in the opposite direction to
insertion.
The suspension strand 11 is a length of wire rope, and the
screwthreaded portion is part of a member 17 the other part of
which is a socket 18 in which the end of the strand is secured by
swaging the socket. A non-circular formation on the member 17 is
formed by a plurality of flats 19 made by a swaging tool (not
shown), to which flats can be applied a wrench or spanner (not
shown) for facilitating screwing into, e.g. a screwthreaded hole 20
in an overhead structural member 21, as in FIG. 3.
The wedging means 15A, 15B comprise wedges slidable along
respective channels 22A, 22B in the body 23 of the locking device
13, each channel converging at an acute angle to and into
communication with a respective one of the twin bores 14A, 14B
(which are separated by a thin wall 24) towards an inlet end 25A,
25B of that respective bore, the wedges 15A, 15B being provided
with transverse ribs 26 (or teeth or other surface formations) for
gripping engagement with the strand 11 (when inserted) under the
urge of compression springs 27A, 27B between the wedges and
recessed abutments 28A, 28B adjacent outlet ends 29A, 29B of the
respective bores 14A, 14B. Apertures 30A, 30B in the body 23 of the
locking device 13 each have an inner end opening into a respective
channel 22A and 22B and each is available as a guide for a separate
tool (not shown) such as a pin or drift pushed into the channel to
move the respective wedge 15A, 15B against the urge of its spring
to enable the strand 11 to be freed for adjustment of the position
of the locking device with respect to the strand.
Referring again to FIG. 3, the free end 16 of the strand 11 is
passed through one bore 14A of the locking device 13, then through
an eye 31 provided on equipment 32 to be suspended, and through the
other bore 14B of the locking device wherein the strand is secured
by the wedge 15B. The level at which the equipment is suspended can
be adjusted upwards by pulling the locking device 13 upwards or by
pulling the free end 16 of the suspension strand 11 further through
the locking device; or the level may be adjusted downwards by
temporarily releasing the wedge 15B by inserting a pin or drift
into the aperture 30B to push the wedge against its spring urge out
of engagement with the strand.
In FIG. 4, the screwthreaded portion 12 is secured in a plain hole
33 in a flange 34 of an overhead structural member 21 by nuts 35
one to each side of the hole, or, as shown in FIG. 5, the
screwthreaded hole 20 in the overhead structural member 21 may be
provided by a drop-in anchor 36 driven into a hole 37 bored in the
member.
In FIG. 6 the strand 11 is shown passing round the equipment 32 or
a support for the equipment, and the manner of adjustment of the
position of the equipment is as described in relation to FIG.
3.
In FIG. 7, the screwthreaded portion 12 on the strand 11 is shown
screwed into a screwthreaded hole 37 in the equipment 32 to be
suspended, the free end 16 of the strand is passed through one bore
14A of the locking device 13, then through an eye 38 provided on
the overhead structural member 21, and through the other bore 14B
of the locking device wherein the strand is secured by the wedge
15B. The level at which the equipment is suspended can be adjusted
upwards by pulling the locking device downwards or by pulling the
free end 16 of the strand 11 further through the locking device; or
the level may be adjusted downwards by temporarily releasing the
wedge 15B in the manner described in relation to FIG. 3.
In FIG. 8, the screwthreaded portion 12 on the strand 11 is shown
secured in a plain hole 39 in the equipment 32 by nuts 40 one to
each side of the hole, and the strand is shown passing over the
overhead structural member 21, adjustment of the level of the
suspended equipment again being as described in relation to FIG.
7.
In FIGS. 9 and 10, a pair of drop-in anchors 36A, 36B are driven
into bores 37A, 37B spaced apart in a concrete overhead structural
member 21 (e.g. a beam or ceiling) by more than the width of
equipment 32 (e.g. ventilation ducting), the screwthreaded portion
12 of a suspension strand 11 is screwed into the drop-in anchor 36A
and a bolt 41 having a head 42 with a lateral hole 43 is screwed
into the drop-in anchor 36B, the free end 16 of the strand is
passed round the equipment, then through one bore 14A of a locking
device 13, next through the lateral hole 43 in the bolt 41 and
through the other bore 14B of the locking device, and, finally, the
free end 16 of the strand 11 is pulled through the locking device
and the lateral hole in the bolt until the equipment 32 is secured
close up against the overhead member 21, either in contact
therewith, or separated therefrom by a pad or strip 44 of
insulating material. Lengths of plastics sleeving 45 are shown
slipped over parts of the strand contacting the lower corners of
the equipment 32, e.g. to minimise vibration or noise.
For use with metal overhead structural members the screwthreaded
portion 12 on the strand 11 and the bolt 41 may each be screwed
into a screwthreaded hole, as illustrated in FIG. 3, or each may be
secured in a plain hole by a pair of nuts, as illustrated in FIG.
4.
* * * * *